Device for cleaning and flushing pipes



Sept. 10, 1935. F. BURKETT ET AL DEVICE FOR CLEANING AND FLUSHING PIPESFiled Aug. 11, 1935 ENVENTORS Bur 65y! and Patented Sept. 10, 1935UNITED STATES Z,tld,037

PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR CLEANING AND FLUSHING PIPES 20 Claims.

Our invention relates to devices for the cleaning and flushing of pipesand refers particularly to devices adapted for the use of chemicalsolutions for that purpose.

While our device is adapted for the cleansing of deposits from anypipes, where such deposits are affected by chemical solutions. it isparticularly adapted for the cleansing of pipes through which beer hasbeen passed.

In the dispensing of beer it is customary to force the beer fromcontainers, such as kegs or barrels, through cooled pipes to thefaucets. During this process the pipes become fouled materiallyaffecting the beer and hence it is necessary to thoroughly remove thedeposited materials and to flush the pipes until they are completelypurified.

For this purpose the application of a chemical cleansing, or detergent,compound in the solution is required, followed by a complete removal ofthe chemical by a fresh water flushing.

In order that such treatment may be both effective and economical, it isessential that the first portion of the cleansing solution passedthrough the pipes be strongly impregnated with the chemical, thuscausing a strong effect upon the fouling materials in order to causetheir destruction and removal.

The device of our invention accomplishes these desirable results, aswill be evident upon a consideration of the accompanying drawing, inwhich similar parts are designated by similar numerals.

Figure 1 is a side view of one form of our device, partly broken awayfor purposes of description.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross section of the device shown inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a section through the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a broken vertical cross section of a modified form of ourdevice.

The particular form of the device of our invention, illustrated inFigures 1, 2 and 3, consists of an outer casing having the annular sidel and the bottom .I.| the latter having an outwardly extended pipesection 12, the inner and outer faces of which are threaded. The bottomII also carries the inwardly extended annular boss l3.

The side it] carries the two pipe sections I4 and 15, the outward facesof which are threaded.

A removable cover l6 for the casing has an annular'recess .I I for thereception of the receptacle side l'fl, an inwardly extended annular bossI8, the outer face of which is threaded; an inwardly extended annularboss H); and an outwardly ex- (Ol. 225-43) tended pipe section 20, theouter face of which is threaded. The cover I6 is attached to the casingby screwing down thereon, the threads of the boss 18 meshing withthreads upon the inner face i I of the upper portion of the casing sidel0. A

within the pipe section l2, the top of the supply 0 pipe being closed bythe cap 24.

A perforated chemical container consisting of the tubular member 25 ismaintained in upright position by the boss l3 of the casing bottom H andthe boss i9 of the cover it, the perforations being preferably in theupper portion thereof.

The pipe section l2 of the casing bottom I l carries the valve 26, whichis connected to the pipe 21, which is connected to the pipe 28, carryingthe valve 29. The valve 29 is connected to the pipe 36 which isconnected to the coupling 31. The coupling 3| is connected to the pipesection l5 of the casing side ill by means of the check valve 32 and tothe pipes to be cleaned and flushed by means of the pipe 33. 21 isconnected to a supply of fresh water by means of the pipe 34.

A cap 35 closes the pipe section M of the casing side l0, and a strap 36around the casing is adapted to retain the device upon a desirablesupport.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The cover 16, or the cap 2!, is removed and the necessary chemical 5B insolid form is introduced into the chemical container and the cover, orthe cap, replaced. Valve 26 is opened and valve 29 is closed. Freshwater is then allowed to enter through the pipe 34. This water passesupwardly through the Valve 26, through the perforations in the watersupply pipe 23 into the chemical container, where it dissolves thechemical, passes outwardly through the perforations in the chemicalcontainer wall into the chamber 31 and thence through the valve 32, thecoupling 3| and the pipe 33 into and through the pipes to be cleaned andflushed, the flow of water being continued until such pipes arethoroughly cleaned.

It is evident that when all of the chemical has been dissolved and thesolution passed through the system, clear water will pass through thedevice and will flush all of the chemical solution from the pipes to becleaned.

If, however, it is desired to otherwise flush the pipes, the valve 26 isclosed and the valve 29 is The pipe 25 opened. The clear water thenpasses through the system 21, 28, 29, 30, 3|, and 33, the check valve 32preventing it from entering the casing.

The modification of our device shown in Figure 4 consists of a casinghaving the annular side 38 and the bottom 39, the latter having theextended pipe section 40, the inner and outer faces of which arethreaded. A perforated water supply pipe 4| is threaded into the pipesection 49.

A chemical container consists of the annular side 42 abutting upon theinner face of the casing side 38, the converging shoulder 43 and theupwardly extended tubular portion 4 3, said tubular member 44 beingperforated. The remainder of the device is similar to that shown inFigures 1, 2 and 3 and described therewith.

In the operation of this modified form of our device, the clear waterenters the water supply pipe 4!, passes through the perforationstherein, enters the chemical container, dissolves the chemical, passesthrough the perforations in the tubular member 44 into the chamber andthence outwardly through the system into the pip-es to be cleaned.

It will be noted that in both of these devices, the first portion ofclear water fed into the device passes through a larger quantity ofchemical than does that which follows and that, therefore, the firstquantity of liquid passing through the pipes to be cleaned contains alarger quantity of chemical than does the following solution, and thisis a most valuable feature of the device, as it is desirable to treatthe deposited impurities with as strong a solution as possible in orderto dislodge, dissolve and remove them. The operation can thus beperformed much more economically and rapidly than if a weaker solutionis applied to these deposits.

It will thus be seen that our invention presents a device which willefficiently remove deposits from beer pipes and other pipes, followed bya thorough flushing to remove the chemicals employed in the process.

We do not limit ourselves to the particular size, shape, number orarrangement of parts as shown and described, as these are given simplyas a means for clearly describing the device of our invention.

What we claim is:

1. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed casing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, an inwardly extended perforated pipe connected with one of saidopenings, a closed chemical container siurounding said perforated pipein spaced relation therewith and having a perforated wall spaced from awall of said casing, a closure in common for saidcasing and for saidcontainer adapted to open and close said and said containersimultaneously, said closure having an opening through it into saidcont.- iner, and a closure for said opening carried by said closure incommon and adapted to be opened.

2. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular casing having an opening in one of its endclosures, a perforated pipe connected with said opening extending onlypart way through said casing towards the other end of the latter andhaving its inner end closed, and a tubular che .1- ical container withinand extending from end to end of said casing and having its oppositeends closed by the opposite end closures of said casing, said containerhaving one end portion only thereof provided with perforations andhaving its other end portion only surrounding said perforated pipe inspaced relation therewith, at least the perforated portion of saidcontainer being spaced from the surrounding side wall of said casing,said casing being provided with another opening which communicates withthe space between said container and the surrounding side wall of saidcasing, one of said openings forming an inlet and the other an outlet.

3. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular casing having an opening in one of its endclosures, a perforated pipe connected with said opening extending onlypart way through said casing towards the other end of the latter andhaving its inner end closed, a tubular chemical container within andextending from end to end of said casing and having its opposite endsclosed by the opposite end closures of said casing, said containerhaving one end portion only thereof provided with perforations andhaving its other end portion only surrounding said perforated pipe inspaced relation therewith, at least the perforated portion of saidcontainer being spaced from the su"rounding side wall of said casing,said casing being provided with another opening which communicates withthe space between said container and the surrounding side wall of saidcasing, one of said openings forming an inlet and the other an outlet,said casing also havin' an opening through its other end closure intothe perforated end portion of said container, and a closure for thelatter opening adapted to be opened.

4. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular casing, a closed tubular chemicalcontainer within and extending longitudinally of said casing, saidcasing having an opening in one of its end closures, and an inwardlyextended perforated pipe connected with said opening extending into oneend of and part way only through said container towards the other end ofthe latter and having its inner end closed, said container having animperforate end portion surrounding said perforated pipe in spacedrelation therewith and having its other end portion perforated andextended beyond the end of said pipe, at least the perforated portion ofsaid container being spaced from the surrounding side wall of saidcasing, said casing being provided with another opening whichcommunicates with the space between said container and the surroundingside wall of said casing, one of said openings forming an inlet and theother an outlet.

5. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular casing, a closed tubular chemicalcontainer within and extending longitudinally of said casing, saidcasing having an opening in one of its end closures, and an inwardlyextended perforated pipe connected with said opening extending into oneend of and part way only through said container towards the other end ofthe latter and having its inner end closed, said container having animperforate end portion surrounding said perforated pipe in spacedrelation therewith and having its other end portion perforated andextended beyond the end of said pipe to the end of said casing andclosed at its end by the other end closure of said casing, at least theperforated portion of said container being spaced from the surroundingside wall of said casing, said casing being provided with anotheropening which communicates with the space between said container and thesurrounding side wall of said casing, one of said openings forming aninlet and the other an outlet.

6. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular casing, a closed tubular chemicalcontainer within and extending longitudinally of said casing, saidcasing having an opening in one of its end closures, an inwardlyextended perforated pipe connected with said opening extending into oneend of and part way only through said container towards the other end.of the latter and having its inner end closed, said container having animperforate end portion surrounding said perforated pipe in spacedrelation therewith and having its other end portion perforated andextended beyond the end of said pipe to the end of said casing andclosed at its end by the other end closure of said casing, at least theperforated portion of said container being spaced from the surroundingside wall of said casing, said casing being provided with anotheropening which communicates with the space between said container and thesurrounding side wall of said casing, one of said openings forming aninlet and the other an outlet, said casing also having an openingthrough itssaid other end closure into the perforated end portion ofsaid container, and a closure for the latter opening adapted to beopened.

7. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular casing, a closed tubular chemicalcontainer within and extending longitudinally of said casing, saidcasing having an opening in one of its end wclosures, an inwardlyextended perforated pipe connected with said opening extending into oneend of and part way only through said container towards the other end ofthe latter and having its inner end closed, said container having animperforate end portion surrounding said perforated pipe in spacedrelation therewith and having its other end portion perforated andextended beyond the end of said pipe to the end of said casing, at leastthe perforated portion of said container bea I ing spaced from thesurrounding side wall of said casing, said casing being provided withanother opening which communicates with the space between said containerand the surrounding side wall of said casing, one of said openingsforming 3 an inlet and the other an outlet, a closure in common for theother end of said casing and for the end of the perforated portion ofsaid container adapted to open and close said casing and said containersimultaneously, said latter closure having an opening through it intosaid container,

and a closure for the latter opening carried by said closure in commonand adapted to be opened.

8. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular casing having an opening in one of its end,tion surrounding said. perforated pipe in spaced relation therewith andclosed at its end by the end closure of said casing at this end thereof,at least the perforated portion of said container being spaced from thesurrounding side wall of 1.said casing, said casing being provided withan.--

other opening which communicates with the space between said containerand the surrounding side wall of said casing, one of said openingsforming an inlet and the other an outlet, a closure in common for theother end of said casing and for the end of the perforated portion ofsaid container adapted to open and close said casing and said containersimultaneously, said latter closure having an opening through it intosaid container, and a closure for the latter opening carried by saidclosure in common and adapted to be opened.

9. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular casing, a closed tubular chemicalcontainer within and extending longitudinally of said casing, saidcasing having an opening in one of its end closures, and an inwardlyextended perforated pipe connected with said opening extending into oneend of and part way only through said container towards the other end ofthe latter and having its inner end closed, said container beingprovided with perforations in its end portion. which extends beyond theend of said perforated pipe and having an imperforate other end portionsurrounding said perforated pipe in spaced relation therewith and closedat its end by the end closure of said casing at this end thereof, atleast the perforated portion of said container being spaced from thesurrounding side wall of said casing, said casing being provided withanother opening which communicates with the space between said containerand the surrounding side wall of said casing, one of said openingsforming an inlet and the other an outlet.

10. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular upright casing having an inlet openingthrough its bottom, an upwardly extended perforated pipe connected withsaid opening extending only part way through said. casing towards itstop and having its upper end closed, and a closed tubular uprightchemical container within and extending from the bottom to the top ofsaid casing and having its lower and upper ends closed by the bottom andthe top respectively of said casing, said container having its upper endportion only provided with perforations and having its lower end portiononly surrounding said perforated pipe in spaced relation therewith, saidperforated portion at least of said container being. spaced from thesurrounding side wall of said casing, said casing being provided with anoutlet opening from the space between said container and the surroundingside wall of said casing.

11. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular upright casing having an inlet openingthrough itsbottom, an upwardly extended perforated pipe connected withsaid opening extending only part way through said casing towards its topand having its upper end closed, a closed tubular upright chemicalcontainer within and extending from the bottom to the top of said casingand having its lower and upper ends closed by the bottom and the toprespectively of said casing, said container having its upper end portiononly provided with perforations and having its lower end portion onlysurrounding said perforated pipe in spaced relation therewith, saidperforated portion at least of said container being spaced from thesurrounding side wall of said casing, said easing being provided with anoutlet openingfrom the space between said container and the surroundingside wall of said casing, said casing also having an opening through itstop into the upper 75 end of said container, and a cover for the latteropening adapted to be opened.

12. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular upright casing, a closed tubular uprightchemical container within said casing, said casing having an inletopening through its bottom, and an upwardly extended perforated pipeconnected with said opening extending into the lower end of and part wayonly upwardly through said container towards the upper end of the latterand having its upper end closed, said container having an imperforatelower end portion surrounding said perforated pipe in spaced relationtherewith and having its upper end portion perforated and extended abovethe upper end of said pipe, said perforated portion at least of saidcontainer being spaced from the surrounding side wall of said casing,said casing being provided with an outlet opening from the space betweensaid container and the surrounding side wall of said casing.

13. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular upright casing, a closed tubular uprightchemical container within said casing, said casing having an inletopening through its bottom, an upwardly extended perforated pipeconnected with said opening extending into the lower end of and part wayonly upwardly through said container towards the upper end of the latterand having its upper end closed, said container having an imperforatelower end portion surrounding said perforated pipe in spaced relationtherewith and having its upper end portion perforated and extended abovethe upper end of said pipe to the top of said casing and closed at itsupper end by said top, said perforated portion at least of saidcontainer being spaced from the surrounding side wall of said casing,said casing being provided with an outlet opening from the space betweensaid container and the surrounding side wall of said casing, said casingalso having an opening through its top into the upper end of saidcontainer, and a cover for the latter opening adapted to be opened.

14. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular upright casing, a closed tubular uprightchemical container within said casing, said casing having an inletopening through its bottom, an upwardly extended perforated pipeconnected with said opening extending into the lower end of and part wayonly upwardly through said container towards the upper end of the latterand having its upper end closed, said container having an imperforatelower end portion surrounding said perforated pipe in spaced relationtherewith and having its upper end portion perforated and extended abovethe upper end of said pipe to the top of said casing and closed at itsupper end by said top, said perforated portion at least of saidcontainer being spaced from the surrounding side wall of said casing,said casing being provided with an outlet opening from the space betweensaid container and the surrounding side wall of said casing, said top ofsaid casing forming a cover in common for the upper end of said casingand for the upper end of said container adapted to open and close saidcasing and said container simultaneously, said cover having an openingthrough it into said container, and a cover for the latter openingcarried by said cover in common and adapted to be opened.

15. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular upright casing having an inlet openingthrough its bottom, an upwardly extended perforated pipe connected withsaid opening extending only part way through said casing toward theupper end of the latter and having its upper end 6 closed, a closedtubular upright chemical container within and extending from the bottomto the top of said casing, said container being provided withperforations in its upper end portion which extends above the upper endof said per- 10 forated pipe and having an imperforate lower end portionsurrounding said perforated pipe in spaced relation therewith and closedby the bottom of said casing, the perforated portion at least of saidcontainer being spaced from the surround- 15 ing side wall of saidcasing, said casing being provided with an outlet opening from the spacebetween said container and the surrounding side wall of said casing, atop cover in common for the upper end of said casing and for the upper20 end of said container adapted to open and close said casing and saidcontainer simultaneously,

said top cover having an opening through it into said container, and acover for the latter opening carried by said top cover and adapted to be5 opened.

16. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular casing having an inlet opening and anoutlet opening, an inwardly extended perforated pipe 30 connected withone of said openings, and a closed tubular chemical container withinsaid casing and having one end portion only thereof provided withperforations and spaced from the surrounding side wall of said casing,said container 35 having its other end portion only surrounding saidperforated pipe in spaced relation therewith and fitting closely withinthe inner face of the surrounding side wall of said casing.

17. In a device adapted for the cleansing and 40 flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular casing having an opening in one of its endclosures, a perforated pipe connected with said opening extending onlypart way through said casing towards the other end of the latter and 45having its inner end closed, and a tubular chemical container within andextending from end to end of said casing and having its opposite endsclosed by the opposite end closures of said casing, said containerhaving one end portion only 50 thereof provided with perforations andspaced from the surrounding side wall of said casing, said containerhaving its other end portion only surrounding said perforated pipe inspaced relation therewith and fitting closely within the inner face ofthe surrounding side wall of said casing, said casing being providedwith another opening which communicates with the space between theperforated end portion of said container and the surrounding side wallof said casing, one of said openings forming an inlet and the other anoutlet.

18. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular upright casing having an inlet openingthrough its bottom, an upwardly extended perforated pipe connected withsaid opening extending only part way through said casing towards its topand having its upper end closed, and a closed tubular upright chemicalcontainer within and extending from the bottom to the top of said casingand having its lower and upper ends closed by the bottom and toprespectively of said cas ing, said container having its upper endportion only provided with perforations and spaced from the surroundingside wall of said casing, said container having its lower end portiononly surrounding said perforated pipe in spaced relation therewith andfitting closely within the inner face of the surrounding side wall ofsaid casing, said casing being provided with an outlet opening from thespace between the perforated endportion of said container and thesurrounding side wall of said casing.

19. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular upright casing, a closed tubular uprightchemical container within said casing, said casing having an inletopening through its bottom, and an upwardly extended perforated pipeconnected with said opening extending into the lower end of and part wayonly upwardly through said container towards the upper end of the latterand having its upper end closed, said container having an imperforatelower end portion surrounding said perforated pipe in spaced relationtherewith and fitting closely within the inner face of the surroundingside wall of said casing, said container having its upper end portionperforated and extended above the upper end of said pipe, saidperforated upper end portion of said container being spaced from thesurrounding side wall of said casing, said casing being provided with anoutlet opening from the space between the perforated upper end portionof said container and the surrounding side wall of said casing.

20. In a device adapted for the cleansing and flushing of pipes, incombination, a closed tubular upright casing having straight side wallsand of equal internal diameter throughout its length, a closed tubularupright chemical container within said casing, said casing having aninlet opening through its bottom, and an upwardly extended perforatedpipe connected with said opening extending into the lower end of andpart way only upwardly through said container towards the upper end ofthe latter and having its upper end closed, said container having animperforate lower end portion of the full diameter of the interaldiameter of said casing and fitting closely within the inner face of thesurrounding side 1 above the upper end of said pipe, said perforated 20upper end portion of said container being of reduced diameter and spacedfrom the surrounding side wall of said casing, said casing beingprovided with an outlet opening from the space between the perforatedupper end portion of said 25 container and the surrounding side wall ofsaid a casing.

FRANK BURKETT. ELLIS TAYLOR.

